Cobblers boss Page reveals transfer deadline day frustration

Jeremy Casey

Cobblers boss Rob Page has spoken of his frustration at narrowly missing out on a clutch of deals to strengthen his squad on transfer deadline day.

Page did sign former Bradford City winger Paul Anderson on Wednesday, but he has admitted the club were also close to bringing in a loan striker as well as Leyton Orient winger Dean Cox, with other players also in the frame.

The Town boss has been working on recruitment and adding to the club’s attacking options for weeks, and he said his phone ‘was red hot’ on Wednesday night as he tried to get those deals completed.

But the Welshman was ultimately left to look back on a night that saw him land only one of his targets, and a window that saw him do plenty of business, but not get through all of the deals he wanted to do.

“We are pleased with the addition we brought in on Wednesday in Paul, who I think is a great signing for us,” said Page.

“But it has been a frustrating window, because we have had numerous targets and for one reason or another, we haven’t got them across the line.

“It is frustrating, but in general we are pleased with the business we have done, and we now get on with winning games of football.”

Wednesday saw plenty of rumours and whispers circulating on social media, with perhaps the strongest one being that Cox was going to swap Brisbane Road for Sixfields.

“All I can say is he was one of many that we were close to getting done,” said Page, when asked if Town were close to landing Cox.

“It was a frustrating evening, and we can’t go into too much detail and won’t talk about individuals and specifics, but there were a few deals we were close to getting down and we couldn’t.”

One area that Page has been very keen to strengthen since he joined the club has been in the striking department.

The Town boss has had clear targets in mind, but has ulitmately been unable to bring in the player or players he wanted.

But despite admitting he had been thwarted in his efforts to strengthen his squad, Page reiterated he is pleased with the playing staff he has at his disposal.

“I had come out and said that up front is an area where we want to bring in competition for places as well, and again we were close,” said the Town boss.

“It was an extremely frustrating evening, and I know many of the supporters would have been sat there waiting for the news to pop up, and again it nearly happened on a couple of occasions.

“For reasons outside of our control, whether the player chose to go elsewhere, or for whatever reason we didn’t quite get the deal done.

“But that is nothing against what we have got here as a group now, and we focus on winning games of football.

“This is the group of players we have got, and we crack on and give it our best shot.”